SANDERS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 14

SANDERS CUP.

WELLINGTON'S WIN.

CLOSE RACE WITH

CANTERBTOY.

BETTY. AND COLLEEN IN FINAL

CONTEST,

(By Telegraph.-—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIISr, Monday. Years of diligent and tenacious challenging have been rewarded for Wellington° as Betty to-day won the decisive Sanders Cup race, after beating off a dodged challenge by Colleen, the Canterbury boat, in .which _ a youthful crew has distinguished itself. For five minutes on the final round Colleen was in the lead, but when tne wind freshened Betty ate her way to windward and romped home a comfort.able winner by 58 seconds. Betty and Colleen both having two wins to_ their credit, were the only two boats in the sixth and final race, shaking off Bona shortly after the start.

"What a great fight these Canterbury boys gave us," said A. Johnston, Betty's skipper, when he reported to the judges at the finish of the race, and his tribute was endorsed on every hand. When a southerly was piping at its merriest, Braesell sailed Colleen into the, lead by excellently-judged boards to weather, and although Betty quickly regained the leading position Brass ell chased her determinedly. As soon as he started to run level with Betty, both skippers had to show coolness, balance and judgment, and although Colleen was beaten at the finish her crew conceded nothing in skill to Betty's complement. They were matched against an older and much more experienced skipper and combination, and their splendid fight was terminated only when the southerly freshened strongly, and Betty's superiority of hull- was evidenced. Consistently high-class sailing has not been seen in any Sanders Cup contest, and the exhibitions of seamanship and small boat handling were all the more gratifying as this series of races was essentially a young man's contest. Allowing that Eileen was never in the hunt from the first race, and thus excluding McCulloch from any comparisons, it must be said that the young men all round sailed better races than Johnston. In the keenest matches of skill and wits ho showed the young skippers no points. In the earlier races the Wellington skipper displayed an inclination to lose some of his judgment when sorely pressed, and consequently the youthful helmsmen were always keen to get near enough to Betty to attempt to unsettle Johnston. The Wellington skipper, however, was more at home in heavy weather than in light airs. For ten years Wellington had journeyed in quest of the cup from Auckland to Stewart Island, and at last success has come its way. The win was very popular, particularly as Betty had won in a contest marked with the greatest spirit of sportsmanship. Her three wins, however, were not so marked as were the successes in past contests. The crews this, year have been more evenly matched than in recent seasons, and it was only in moderate to heavy weather that Betty was superior to Colleen and Bona.

For the final race decidedly unpleasant weather was experienced, a chilly wind from the sou'-west bringing heavy rail"., which did not cease during the race. After a week of variable and trying breezes a true full-sail wind was blowing, although for brief spells.it decreased in force, only to come away fresher again. On the first beat Betty and Colleen romped away from Rona, Avalon and Eileen, and the rearguard did not onco get within hailing distance. It was a dull and uninteresting procession until the third round of the triangular course. On that thresh Johnston was jamming Betty as lie worked into the eye of the wind, while Colleen was going much faster through the water. As Colleen stood for the windward mark, her sails filled to a handy puff, which carried ner clear of Betty's bow, and she rounded ll' seconds ahead. Before going a quarter of a mile on the lead Colleen and Betty both broke out spinnakers, and Betty gradually moved up into the weather berth. The lead is her strongest point of sailing, and leading for the mark she challenged Colleen. They staged a great fight for the honour of first place at the start of the last round. Betty, which was in the leeward position, then gybed two seconds before Colleen swung her boom across, and the windward position held by the Canterbury boat just compensated for the time difference.

Rona gained eight seconds on the leading boat with her spinnaker set all the way across to. the steamer basin, but it was a two-boat race, with Rona too far behind to have any chance, save by way of a fluke, of "being with the Wellington and Canterbury boats at the finish. Early in the run Betty obtained a three-lengths lead, and this she retained to near the Castle beacon. As they were housing spinnakers Colleen caught a handy puff, which took her up to Betty. Together they hauled in sheets. It was a thrilling race, but on the first leg Johnston was pinching Betty in an effort to hold the. weather berth, and Colleen showed the older skipper her stern. After two legs Betty weathered Colleen again, and immediately put about to keep the challenger under her lee. In a freshening breeze the two boats careened gracefully as they sailed high on and off shore, Betty opening up a margin gradually. The heavier weather was coming at the right time for her, yet if the wind had fallen light Colleen would have beaten Betty. With a handy margin of lm 12s at Anderson's Bay mark, Betty eased away and set her spinnaker for the lead home. The race was over at this stage. In the rear Rona was sailing her own course, while Eileen continued to weather Avalon in an interesting brush on windward work between the two skippers. With the wind only moderate Colleen commenced to draw closer to Betty, but she was still 58s behind when the line was reached.

Rona wae not sailed her usual good course, while Betty and Colleen gained on each thresh. Rona's skipper did not elect to follow their courses. A distinctly improved performance was put up by Eileen, which sailed her best race in the contest. It was found yesterday that her forestay was 7in short, making a .considerably disadvantageous stepping of the mast, and with adjustments made she was able to carry a leader and then foot it with Avalon. The Auckland boat was very disappointing. She made a poor showing on windward work throughout the contest. Her young skipper, Doug. Rogers, has sailed her capably, but she has been followed by bad luck. Sailing times and order of finish were:— Betty, lh 52m 20s 1 Colleen, lh 53 m 18s 2 Rona, lh 57m 17s .......... 3 Eileen, 2h lm Is ..... „ ....;« 4 Avalon, 2h lm 7s

The winning crew was A. Johnston (skipper), P. G. Harlen, R. Robertson and A. Willson, while Colleen was manned by G. Braseell (skipper), R. Priddy, F. Collins and F. Forman. Great interest has been taken by the public in the contest, and it is evident that in the South public support for yachting has been stimulated by the closeness and keenness of the contest.